About
Comino
Comino and the uninhabited islet of Kemmunett, Cominotto, lie almost midway in the Gozo–Malta channel and are considered part of Gozo for both civil and religious affairs. The name is derived from kemmun, cumin, a plant whose seeds are widely used as a condiment in Mediterranean and Eastern country. Its motto is Moror inter aras, resposing between guardians, in reference to the islands of Malta and Gozo. Comino is closer to Gozo than to Malta; the promontory next to Għar Għana on the north west of the island is just 825 metres from Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Gozo. The island is best known for the stretch of sea between the two Cominos, aptly called in Maltese Bejn il-Kmiemien, referred to as the Blue Lagoon: the clear turquoise blue water here is unique. In 1618, the Knights built Saint Mary’s Tower to defend the Gozo channel and deter enemy shipping from finding shelter in the caves of Comino. The island’s church is dedicated to the Return of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Egypt. The island is the most unspoilt region of the Maltese islands and it is an aspiration of one and all that its pristine beauty is preserved for the generations to come.
Kemmuna, magħrufa Comino bl-Ingliż, mal-gżira diżabitata ta’ Kemmunett, jinsabu kważi f’nofs tal-fliegu Għawdex–Malta u huma meqjusa bħala parti minn Għawdex kemm fi ħwejjeġ ċivili, kif ukoll f’dawk reliġjużi. L-isem tal-gżira ġej mill-kelma kemmun, pjanta li ż-żerriegħa tagħha tintuża ħafna bħala kondiment fil-pajjiżi tal-Mediterran u wisq iktar fil-Lvant. Il-motto ta’ Kemmuna jirreferi għal fatt li l-gżira hi mgħassa mill-gżejjer ikbar ta’ Malta u Għawdex. Kemmuna hija eqreb lejn Għawdex milli lejn Malta; il-promontorju msejjaħ Għar Għana fil-majjistral tal-gżira jinsab biss 825 metru mid-daħla ta’ Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Għawdex. Il-gżira hija l-aktar magħrufa għall-medda baħar Bejn il-Kmiemem, li bl-Ingliż jirreferu għaliha bħala l-Blue Lagoon. L-ilma lewn blu ċar fil-medda qasir bejn il-Kmiemem hu uniku fl-arċipelagu Malti. Fl-1618, il-Kavallieri bnew it-Torri ta’ Santa Marija biex jiddefendu l-fliegu ta’ Għawdex u jisfrattaw u jattakkaw lill-pirati li kienu jsibu kenn fl-għerien ta’ Kemmuna. Il-knisja tal-gżira hija ddedikata lir-Ritorn tal-Verġni Mqaddsa Marija mill-Eġittu, titlu komuni ħafna fil-Knisja Biżantina. Il-gżira ta’ Kemmuna hi l-unika parti tal-gżejjer Maltin li għadha mhix mittiefsa mill-iżvilupp qerriedi li ma jirrispettax lin-natura. Hi xewqa ta’ min irid il-ġid lill-uliedu u lill-ulied uliedu li s-sbuħija naturali tagħha tibqa’ bla mittiefsa għall-ġenerazzjonijiet li ġejjin.
